Panaji, Aug 3 - Goa Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane Monday said the state's nodal officer for swine flu, who last week alleged the health department was not allocating adequate funds to tackle the disease, would be replaced.

'Dr Rajendra Tamba, who has headed the state swine flu programme, will now be replaced by another epidemiologist,' Rane told reporters, adding Tamba's 'outburst' could hamper tourism in the state.

In an official pressnote last week, Tamba blamed the state government's apathy for the lack of funds to carry out any activity related to swine flu.

'The expenses so far were made from funds under Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) received from the government of India, which are now exhausted.